Sanitary toilet seat dispenser



June 23, v s B CUMNHNGS SANITARY TOILET SEAT DISPENSER Filed Jan. 21.1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVE N TOR S B. CUMMINGS BY j ATTORNEYS June 23,1931. s. B. CUMMINGS 1,811,537

SNITARY TOILET SEAT DISPENSER Filed Jan. 21. 1929 SSheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

INVENTOR S. B. CUMMINGS A T TORNE Y3 June 23, 1931. s; B. CUMMINGSSANITAI IY TOILET SEAT DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 21. 1929FIG. 4.

FIG. 5

INVENTOR .B CUMMINGS BY f TTORNEYS Patented June. 23, 1931 PATENT]oFFIc'E-} Y 'soirrrlnnn'e. 'cUMjMIitds, F nondinneon, oninson nin,essrenoe, BY EsNEnssrGn- I izrnlfwrs,To Brennan rnnnnneon Jonnso'n,ole-"none EAC CALIFORNIA r mew me I e Wras e Applic-ation filedJanuary21,1929. Serial mysseo'solfl 'This invention relates to dispensing "defvices, and has foran ObJec-t theprovision of an mprovedapparatus forholding a continuous strip or roll of paper, and for sever-f ing the endof the strip into sheets of predetermined length, and dischargingsaid'severedsheetsyone at a time, for use.

Another object'is; the provision of a dispensing device of the generalcharacter described, provided-smith novel and esp'e cialleiiieient-severing means, this severing means belng alsoadapted'to-permit the discharge of buta single; one of the severedsheets at a time.

A furtherobject is theprovision of a dispensing device as des eribedhavingcoin-controlled means for releasing the locking means to permitoperation of-the devise to dispense a single sheet ot thegpaper andsever the sheet from the body'ofthestrip.

A further obj ect is the provision of a vice for dispensing a singlesheet of paper, combined vvithineans ifor cutting an openin-g inthecenter of the severed sheet during the operation of propelling the'sheetfroin the dei A still further object is the provision ofa combinedapparatus as above'desoribed, in which the means for-cutting the openingin. the center of each sheet is arranged so as to leave a portion o'fthe periphery of the opening uncut, forming a resultant sheetparthoseenumerated, Wl

tic'ularly adapted 'to serve as a sanitary c over fora toilet seat. i Ip The invention possesses other obj sets .and advantageous features some,of w hic h, with i1. be et .forthin the following description of theIinventions particular embodiment whic fisflillustrated in th d a wmPenYs d. -f min f a part of the specification. Referring to thedraw' ngszFigural is a vertic l sectional viewtaken through the housing ofthedevice, upjon the line 1-11 of Fig. 2, Withthe direction of; Viewindicated by "the arrows andfs'hovving the operating mechanism in sideelevfation. I

- Fig.2 is asfront elevation of the device,

with ithe front of the housing brokenaway to showthe operating mechanismin front .[Glr' 5 Fig. 3 is a longitud inal, vertical sectional Viewtakenupon the line 33 of Fig'Q' 1",vvith the direction oifvievvindicated by the arrows. 1 H Fig.4 is a plan 'view ofasheet of-the paperfolded as discharged from the device. l

. Fig. 5 is aplan View Ypaper is mounted. Access 'to'the interior ofthe-housing torytherenewal of the roll 12, "is mad poss bl by Gfro'mtheback 7:

17-are also journalled upon the framework js suitahlealigned' journalsl8 and 19 being provided-forthe reception ofthspshflts 21 and 22 0f :therolls16 -a11d;17, respectively.

"The shafts 21. and 22' are spaced a'gdistanee olf'the sheet of Fig. A,unfolded ready for use.

removing-the housing "A -pair offending; and cuttinglrolls and equal tothesum-of theradii efthe'two rolls,

With the result5 that the surfaces of these rollsare'su'fliciently"close together to grip the extended end' j23 of thepaper being unrolled from the supply roll 12. In orderto ppreventslipping vofione of therolls in respect to-the other, enmeshed gears '26and 27 are made iast to :the shafts 21- and 22, respectively. Therolllt'ris larger than the roll 17, the diameter of the former being amultiple ofgth at of the 'latter preferably the diameter of the r0lli16.being twice that of the roll 17, Withthe result-that the roll 17 willmake two complete revolutions ion-each revolution of the-roll 16.; r

A preferably serrat'ediknite -l disposed svithin-and extendinglongitudinally of the you 16, which. is hollow, iscarried by a-strip'325'WhlCl1' lS movable radially of the roll 116, being carriedpreferably a pair-f :pins

slidably; mounted in :lugs 34 against each of which-a spring 35presses,i'urgingthe strip 32'andkni-fe 31 radially outwards in respect=t'oath,erol1* 1f6,'t0 project the knife 31. through a slot 36 in thewall of the roll 16. When in outermost position, the outer or cuttingedge of the knife 31, is disposed within a complementary groove 37 inthe smaller roll 17. The knife 31 fits sufliciently loosely within thegroove 37 to permit the rolls 16 and 17 to turn without interference atthe knife 31 with the walls of the groove 37.

Coin-releasable means for holding the rolls 16 and 17 against turning,are provided. The shaft 22 terminates at a point spaced from the insideof the housing 6, and an axially aligned shaft 41 is journalled upon anextension 42 of the frame 8. A disc 43 is rigidly attached to the shaft22; and a disc 46 is rigidly attached to the shaft 41. An operatinghandle 47 is rigidly attached to the outer end of the shaft 41, outsidethe housing 6. A pin 48, rigid with the disc 43, is disposed within anarcuate slot 49 in the disc 46, permitting a degree of play between thetwo shafts 41 and 22, corresponding to the length of the slot 49, buteffecting rotation of the two shafts together after this play has beentaken up. A coin recess 51 is formed in the edge of the disc 46; and acoin chute 52 leads from the top of the housing 6 downwards to a pointadjacent the coin recess 51, so that a coin deposited in the coin chute52, will lodge within the recess 51.

A lever 53 is mounted for pivotal move? ment upon a pin 54 rigid with aportion 56 of the framework 8. The free end of this lever 53 is adaptedto engage'a projection 57 upon the inner disc 43, in such a manner thatit normally holds the disc against rotation. However, when a coin isdropped through the coin chute 52 and lodges within the coin recess 51which is in the outer disc 46, and then this disc 46 is turned, therounded edge of the coin will engage the free end of the lever 53 andswing it about its pivot 54 so that the projection 57 of the inner disc43 will bepermitted to turn therepast when the pin 48 is engaged by theafter end of the slot 49. As soon as the roll 17 has turned far enoughso that the coin recess is disposed adjacent the'bottom thereof, thecoin will drop from the recess to the bottom of the housing 6.

Means are provided for retaining the lever 53 in unlocking positionuntil the cycle of the machine has been completed. Since the roll 17must make two revolutions for a single revolution of the roll 16, it isimportant that the projection 57 shall not engage the lever 53 until theroll 17 has made two complete revolutions. A push rod 61 is mounted forsliding movement within brackets 62 carried by the frame 8. A spring 63under compression betweenthe lever 53 and one of the brackets 62, urgesthe lever 53 to locking position, whereas'a stronger spring 64 undertension between a portion'of the frame 8 and a bracket 66 carried by therod 61, urges the rod 61 in the direction opposite to that in which thespring 63 exerts its force. A shoulder 67 onthe rod 61, is adapted toengage the lever 53 and push it from engaging position. A cam 68 iscarried by the roll 16 in position to engage a shoulder 69 rigid withthe rod 61. This cam 68 is of such configuration that when it is inengagement with the shoulder 69, the rod 61 is withdrawn from thatposition in which the shoulder 67 presses the lever 53- out of lockingposition. Furthermore, the cam 68 is so positioned upon the roll 16 thatimmediately after the lever 53 has been pressed out of locking positionby the coin within the coin recess 51, the cam 68 will pass fromengagement with the shoulder 69, whereupon the spring 64 will slide therod 61 so that the shoulder 67 retains the lever 53 out of lockingposition. Therefore, when the projection 57 again passes the lever 53,it will not engage the lever 53, permitting a second revolution of theroll 17. However, as the roll 17 approaches the completion of a secondrevolution, the cam 68 will have again engaged the shoulder 69,withdrawing the rod 61 and permitting the spring 63 to press the lever53 again to locking position so that the shoulder 57 will come intoengagement therewith and retain the mechanism locked until another coinhas been deposited in the coin chute 52.

A lever 7 6 is also pivoted to the end of the roll 16 as by a pin 77.One end 78 of the lever 76 presses against the outer side of a roller orpin 79 carried by the strip 32 and extending through a, slot 81 in theend of the roll 16. The other end 82 of the lever 76 is so shaped thatas the roll 16 approaches the completion of its revolution, the end 82engages a pin 83 rigid with a portion 84 of the frame 8. However, theend 82 of the lever 76 is so proportioned that it will pass fromengagement with the pin 83 at just the instant that the roll 17 hascompleted two revolutions, and the roll 16 has completed one revolutionJIt is obvious that at that time the groove 37 in the roll 17 will haveagain come into register with the knife 31 so that as the end 82 of thelever 76 passes from the pin 83, the strip 32 will be pressed outwardsby the springs 35, so that the knife 31 enters the groove 37, severingasheet 84 of prede termined length from the end 23 of the paper whichhas'been unrolled from the roll 12. It should be called to attentionhowever, that the end 82 of the lever 76, does not pass from the pin 83until after the knife 31 and the slot 37 have passed the plane whichincludes both axes of rotation of the rolls 16 and 17 This is'animportant feature, in that it insures the retention ofthe end 23 of thepaper from the roll 12 after the sheet 84 has been severed therefrom,because the point of sevigsmgeer erance is slightly seda e-glint 01':tested of jthe two"rolls{withtheipaper Means are provided ferzmainglampem ing substantially" the center of" each of the sheets-to besevered and discharged from the device: 'Fhe' sheet of paper of whichthe roll 7 12:- is formedgis doubled longitudinally upon parts b andpreferably serrated-' knife- 86 upon its surface, the" ends 87' and 880fwhich aredisposed adjacent that? end of thef'roll associated with thefolded edge of the paper-.1 However, the end 88* is spaced slightly fromthat end' oftheriolli for a purpose to be hereins after disclose'di fA'compwmentarygroove 89 is formed in the surf ce of the roll? 1 7, the

' "eing' so jroport'ioned and arranged that as the rolls ia-returnedthe: knife 86 is receivable withi'nthe groove-89, severingthe foldedpaper along a linef determinedby the arcuate' shape or; the'knife 86 andgroove 89: r

r The end '8 8 of the knife 86 is disposed at"- a greater anglewiththeaxis of rotation of the roll 16 isthe end 8761? the knife, with i itheresult that a out 91 forrn'e'dlin each sheet 84, and that-portion 92 ofthe out which is formed by'the end 8 7, being more nearly at a' rightangle with the folded edge 93 of 1 the sheet 84 than that portion 94ofthe cut 91 which is formed by the end 88 of the knife.

Furthermore, since the end 88 of the knife 86 tially rectangular sheethaving an opening. 7 substantially in the center thereof, this openingbeing defined by the cut 91 and having the tongue 96 which may befoldeddown- .wards from one side of the opening; This sheet is so shapedand proportioned that it is adapted to form a sanitarycoverfor' atoilet'seat, andthe tongue 96 afl'ordsadditional sanitaryprotection as itdepends from the toilet bowl. a

front portionof the body of the sheet into the 'A guide 101 extendsinwards from the housing'6 to guide the sheet-s84 through a 56 dischargeopening 102, to facilitate thedischarge of the severed sheets after theyhave been released'by the cutting rollers 16 and-17;? Reversal of thedirection of rotation of'the;

rolls 16 and17, is prevented by a' pawl 103 pivoted as by a pin 104preferably tothe ba'ck 7. The pawl 103 hangs with a finger-at. its outerend 106 engaging the teeth of the gear 26 in such a mannerthattheroll.16 may be rotated forwards butnot'b-ackwards.

The method of operation of the dispensing device of invention issubs'taiiliially'i'as follows-z v 1 When an attempt "is inade to min thethe coin chute 5 2, the projection: 57 in engage.- ment withthef'1even53 W-1ll prevent-rotation oft he' di'sc so thatbthe only rot ati'ontha-t handle- 47 without first depositinga coin in V can heeflectedwill' be that of tlie outer diso 46 which is permitt'ed -rotaiiymovement, the

fex'tent ofwhich is limited by the engagement 7 of the pin 48 withi'nthe slot1 49. j However,

when a coin is'properly deposited and. then the-handle 47 rotated, thecoin w'ill engage the 'lever 53 zbefore the projection '57 raising the llever and permittingithe proj 'e'ction' to pass. 7 Thus the rolls maybeturned to "discharge a sheet 8'4: through the discharge opening 1.02,

drawing'a; supply; of pa'perfroxn the roll 12.

Itis: obvious thatasrthe rolls turna with the paper therebetween the cut91 will beformed', defining the tongue 96? -Engagement of the projection57 with thelever 5'3when theiroll I 17 has made one completerevolution,"i. ez, when the cycle of the machine is: only=*li'alfcompleted,gis prevented therod 6l andthe associated -j parts asdescribed 7 hereinabove.

However, after the roll 17 ha-sl mai ie more than -a complete revolutionso that the projection- 57 haspasse'd tl18 l8'V6I f5 3 the-second time,the rod: 61 is'iretunned to-normal posi tionl somthat as the projection:57 againi appreaches the 1ever'53 ,the lever 53:isin engag h V ing.position Consequently, a second she'et 84 can not? be withdrawn from themachine until another coin' has been. deposited As the roll; '16approachesithe completion of its revolutibn the knife el is retractedbecause of? the engagement, ofthelever176 with the pin 83-,asiabovedescribed';and when the cycle of the: niachine has been completed, theend 8210f the lever will pass from .theiipin 83, perlmittin'gathesprings 35 to press theknife 31 outwardsof the roll 16 andintothe'groove B7 in. theiroll 17 to; seven t11e"sheet"84fro1nthebodyflaofthe' paper. l

1c isto be uncle-rstoo'dgthat the details of theiinvention as herein.disclosed, are subject te -alteration withinlthe spirit or. scope of theappended claimsl v 3 lliglgiimqfi- V -i In a dispensing device, ahousing havfreely supporting a supply of thearticle to be 'ing adelivery openingftherei'n', means for dispensed, a -pai r "of rolls. 1'"OHIIIajllQd" within said housing. and engaging therebetween a portionUnsaid: article, said rolls being di'sposed? to" propel 'the--end ofsaid portion through the delivery'opening" as they" are rotated, meansfor: rotating; said rolls, a knife disposed within a groove extendinglongi- -tudinally offone of said rolls; spring 'nreans urging" saidknife outwards of said groove I to {seven mp'r'edetermined length or thearticle, and for withdrawing said knife.) 2. In a dispensing devicegehonsinghas:

ing a delivery opening therein, me ans for freely supporting a supply ofthe article'to be dispensed, a pair of rolls journ'alled within saidhousing and engaging therebetween a portion of said article, said rollsbeing disposed to propel the end of said portion through the deliveryopening as they are rotated, means for rotating said rolls in-oppositedirections to draw saidarticlefrjom its supply and propel the endthereof' through the delivery opening, a knifedisposed within a grooveextending longitudinally of one of said rolls, spring means urging saidknife outwards of said groove to sever a predetermined length of thearticle and enter a groove in the other roll, and means for with drawingand retaining said knife in withdrawn position until it has passed theplane inclluding the axes of rotation of both'of said r01 5. Y

3. In a dispensing device, a housing having a delivery opening'therein,means for freely supporting a supply of the article to be dispensed, apair of rolls journalled within said housing and engaging therebetween aportion of said article, said rolls being disposed to propel the end ofsaid portion through the delivery opening as they are rotated, saidrolls being of unequal diameters and the 1 diameter of the larger rollbeing a multiple of that of the smaller roll, means for rotating saidrolls in opposite directions to draw said article from its supply andpropel'the end thereofthrough the delivery opening, a knife disposedwithin a groove extending longitudinally of one ofsaid rolls,springmeans urging said knife outwards of said groove to sever apredetermined length of the article and enter a groove in the otherroll, and means for withdrawing and retaining said knife in withdrawnposition until it has passed the plane including the axes'of rotation ofboth of said rolls.

4. In a dispensing device, a housing having a delivery opening therein,means for freely supporting a supply. of the article to be dispensed, apair of rolls journalledwithin said housing and engaging therebetween aportion of said article, said rolls being disposed to propel the end ofsaid portion through the delivery opening as they are rotated, means forrotating said rolls in opposite directions to draw said article from itssupply and propel the end thereof through the delivery opening, a knifedisposed with in a groove extending longitudinally of one of said rolls,spring means urging said knife outwards of said groove to sever apredetermined length of the article and .enter a groove in the otherroll, means for withdrawing and retaining said knife in withdrawnposition until it has passed the plane including the axes of rotationof'both of said rolls, and releasable means holding said rolls againstrotation. v

5. In a dispensingdevice, a housing having a delivery opening therein,means for freely supporting a supply of the articleto be dispensed, apair of rolls j ournalled Within said housing and engaging therebetweena portion of said article, said rolls being'disposed to propel the endof said portion through 'the delivery opening as they are rotated,

said rolls being of unequal diameters and the diameter of the largerroll being a multiple of that of the smaller roll, means for rotatingsaid rolls in opposite directions to draw said article from its supplyand propel the end thereof through the delivery opening, a knifedisposed within a groove extending longitudinally of one of said rolls,spring meansurging said knife outwards of said groove to sever apredetermined length of the article and enter a groovein the other roll,means for withdrawing and retaining said knife in Withdrawn positionuntil it has passed the plane'including the axes of rotation of both ofsaid rolls, and releasable means holding said rolls against rotation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

SCHILLER B. CUMlWINGS.

